Constructions put on hold near monuments

Construction around ancient monuments across the state have been put on hold after the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) dashed off show-cause notices to the numerous authorities.

The notice to the AMC to suspend construction of Kankaria lakefront development project (this will also affect the Atal Express) is part of a drive initiated by the ASI following the Delhi high court ruling that ASI is not empowered to grant permission to allow construction around ancient monuments.

“We have dashed off notices to the many individuals to comply with the Delhi HC order and the Kankaria lakefront project is among these sites,” said RC Nauriyal, superintending engineer of the ASI.

“I can’t give exact number of the sites ,” Nauriyal said. 

According to a notice dashed off to the civic body on December 15, the ASI has sought the explanation of AMC within a period of six weeks for allowing construction within 100 meter area of the protected monument. The period of reply to the notice is the end of this month.

The latest development means, the AMC will now have to give satisfactory reply for the construction or to remove the facilities falling inside 100 meter of the Kankaria lake, including Atal Express.